Smith hails shattered Murrays
TEAM GB captain Leon Smith paid tribute to brothers Andy and Jamie Murray for shouldering an enormous emotional and physical Davis Cup burden — despite their best efforts not being enough to see off Argentina. A visibly hurting Andy, who had pulled Britain back from the brink with a doubles win alongside Jamie on Saturday, limped to a singles victory over Guido Pella yesterday to send the semi-final into a final rubber. But Dan Evans was blown away in four sets by Leonardo Mayer, meaning Argentina now go through to face Croatia in the November final. Andy opted to miss his grandfather’s funeral on Friday in order to prepare for his opening singles match, a fact not lost on Smith. ‘Yet again, amazing
commitment,’ said the skipper. ‘We are really fortunate to have those two boys. They are a credit to themselves, their families and the sport. They fight so hard. ‘For sure, it has been a very difficult time for them and they have managed to give their best for the country yet again. ‘It would have been very difficult. Emotionally, that would have taken a lot out of them. To lose a family member is very, very difficult. No doubt it must have an effect. Andy went out and fought his heart out and did his family proud yet again.’ Murray needed medical treatment for shooting pains in his upper right leg yesterday, Smith praising him for still getting the win, saying: ‘He is a tough nut. He has banked a lifetime of working incredibly hard, showing everybody what it is like working so hard to become one of the best athletes in world sport — and it shows at times like this. ‘He is able to just find a way. That is why he has won so many things and had such a great career. Hopefully, now he can find some time to rest because he certainly deserves that.’ Murray, whose injury was perhaps inevitable given his packed summer schedule, said: ‘I have never had a sharp pain in my muscle before, so that was worrying for me. I was still moving okay, it was just the pain. ‘The pain distracts you. I expected to be tired this weekend and in some degree of pain, so my expectations were less.’